The Lewis Legacy Series Box Set: 4-in-1 Special Edition Read online

  “Ready?” Rebekah ran a quick brush through her long blonde tresses.

  “As ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”

  “You look really pretty, Lexa. But tonight is rather difficult for you, isn’t it?” Rebekah was pretty perceptive about her relationship with Sam. “Have you two made any decisions about your future?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry for prying into your personal business. Just give me the Nibby Nose Award already.”

  They both laughed. “I wish I could tell you that Sam and I have worked everything out, Beck, but we haven’t. It’s true that only the Lord knows at this point.”

  They walked together in the direction of the dining tent where the party was starting and refreshments were being served. A portable CD player and speakers pumped out contemporary Christian music, providing a stereo effect throughout the entire area.

  As they approached the tent, Lexa’s eyes scanned the gathering crowd for Sam. While she didn’t want to rush over to his side like a leech, she wanted to spend as much time as possible with him since their time together at the camp was dwindling. She comforted herself with the thought that he promised to call her when he was back in Houston a few days after the workers left the worksite.

  “Lexa.”

  Turning, Lexa smiled into Sam’s startling blue eyes. Tonight he wore a red, long-sleeved shirt, rolled at the cuffs and tucked into his jeans. He looked even more handsome in red. It intensified the gorgeous hue of those amazing eyes. The cowboy hat was conspicuous in its absence, his dark hair in need of a haircut after the summer spent at the camp. It covered his ears and fell in soft waves over his collar.

  “You look lovely.”

  “Thanks. You don’t look so bad yourself.” Being dramatic, she sniffed. “Is that aftershave?” Lexa laughed as he gave her a shrug accompanied by a sheepish grin.

  “Listen, I got some good news a few minutes ago.” He took her hands and pulled her aside. “The state police called. It seems Howard stopped at a mini-mart outside the city last night, intent on relieving them of their cash. When he realized he didn’t have the gun, the clerk pulled a gun on him.” Sam grinned. “Long story short? Sheila and Angelina are safe and sound, and Howard will be in jail for a good long while.”

  “Sam! Thank the Lord you were right!” Lexa threw her arms around his neck in a big hug, not caring that other TeamWork volunteers watched. Sam embraced her, giving her a quick kiss. He obviously didn’t care everyone knew they were an item, and it thrilled her. Who was she kidding? They all probably knew before she and Sam did, judging by the reaction of her roommates alone.

  “There’s more.” Enthusiasm infused the deep timbre of his voice. “The police also picked up your favorite car. It’s being delivered to me right here in the camp sometime late tomorrow morning. Which means I’ll be able to drive you back to meet your bus after all—in style. In the bomb I know you love so very much.”

  Sam laughed again as he glimpsed Lexa’s skeptical expression. “Love me, love my bomb. Seriously, Lexa, I love how you saw Sheila’s underlying strength more so than any of the rest of us. Just another reason to love you.” He dropped a quick kiss on her nose.

  Lexa released a sigh. “I’ll pray that Howard might see the light, so to speak, and realizes his need for Someone other than himself to help turn his life around. He loves Angelina without question. Hopefully, she can be the guiding light he needs.” She shrugged. “Sounds like he’ll have plenty of time for thinking now that he’s behind bars.”

  Sam nodded. “Now, then, on to our party. Want some punch?”

  “Why, I’d love some, Mr. Lewis.” Taking his proffered arm, Lexa walked into the tent by his side. As she watched Sam, his eyes alive with excitement as he talked with his TeamWork volunteers, Lexa gloried in the fact this wonderful man loved her. He attended to her needs at the party—making sure her punch cup was full, including her in his conversations, listening with rapt attention whenever she had something to say. Hooking his arm through hers on several occasions, Sam made sure everyone knew how important she was to him. Lexa’s head was spinning. The Lord had blessed her immeasurably.

  The two of them talked and laughed with various members of the volunteer staff for over an hour until Winnie and Natalie sounded the dinner gong to get everyone’s attention. Reaching beneath the podium, Winnie pulled out the wrapped package.

  “We have a little presentation to make. Sam,” Winnie called, looking around the crowd, “would you come up here, please?” It wasn’t hard to find him since he was the tallest man in the group. He smiled as several of the men slapped him on the back and whooped, whistled and hollered as he headed toward the front.

  Watching him, Lexa’s eyes filled with tears. She turned away for a moment. Noticing her dilemma, another girl standing near Lexa handed her a tissue. Blowing her nose, Lexa smiled her thanks.

  After the presentation was made, along with a few humorous awards, Sam strode back to Lexa’s side with his new hat perched proudly on his head. “So, what do you think, Most Promising TeamWork Volunteer?” Acting silly, he postured in front of her with a big grin.

  “I definitely like it,” she told him with an admiring glance. “Just don’t let it go to your head.”

  Sam laughed. “Beautiful and witty!” Grabbing her hand in his protective grasp, he leaned close, whispering in her ear. “What do you say we wrap this up and blow this popsicle stand?”

  Lexa laughed and nodded her agreement.

  A short time later, as most of the group started to disburse, Sam and Lexa walked together. “So, did you ever find out what happened with the money?”

  “You know, it’s a funny thing about that.” He stopped walking and gave her an odd look. “I went into the office to write out my report and found an envelope on my chair. Containing exactly five hundred dollars.” His eyes softened. “Seems there’s no need to make a report. Know anything about that, Miss Clarke?”

  Lexa hid her grin. “Not a thing except to say your volunteers love you, Sam. And no,” she added, “no one else knows about the missing money. It’s our secret.”

  “It’s not your money, is it, Lexa?”

  She shook her head. “The donations for your hat came in at exactly five hundred dollars more than we needed.” She shrugged. “Call it a donation for TeamWork and enjoy the hat.”

  Sam smiled. “The Lord always has a way of working these things out, doesn’t He?”

  “In the most inventive and marvelous ways.” Lexa beckoned him near. “Come closer, please. Much closer.” She loved that he still wore his glasses from when he made his final remarks to the TeamWork crew at the party. All the more fun to remove those glasses.

  The playful look she adored creased Sam’s smile lines in a most charming manner, and it turned her inside out. In a very good way. “I really adore a man in glasses, but . . .”

  He pulled back, teasing. “I hope you don’t mean just any man?”

  Lexa’s heart swelled. “The man standing in front of me now. The man with the most beautiful heart I’ve ever known.” With painstaking care, she inched the glasses down his nose.

  “You’re taking way too long.” Sam yanked them off his face to spare her the trouble. “Save that for when we’re old and gray.” Taking her in his arms, he kissed her silly—so much so, Lexa needed his support. Or maybe she was holding him up. They definitely needed each other.

  “Not to change the subject,” Sam said a good while later, “but you don’t really hate my bomb, do you?” He looked a little goofy with a hazy, besotted expression.

  Lexa laughed. “You know, believe it or not, I’ve grown rather fond of that old station wagon. If your old bomb means that much to you, then I kind of love it, too.” She leaned her head against Sam’s chest, snuggling into him. His arms found their way around her, holding her close, secure and safe from everything in the world. Dwarfed by how tall he was, Lexa cherished how Sam made her feel statuesque.

  “Glad to hear it.” He sounded relieved. I
t was amazing how much that old station wagon meant to him.

  “It’s not the most romantic place, is it?” Lexa scanned the barren landscape around the worksite.

  “On the contrary,” Sam said, watching her. “To me, it’s one of the loveliest places on earth.”

  Lexa stared at him, wide-eyed. “Oh? Had your eyes checked lately?” She grinned. “Maybe you should put your glasses back on.”

  Sam didn’t laugh. “Considering it’s the place where I fell in love with you, it seems full of its own unique charm.”

  Lexa sighed. “You’re making this even more difficult when you say things like that.”

  Sam took her hands in his. “This is just the beginning, you know. It’s not the end.”

  “I know.” Lexa couldn’t prevent the tears from forming and starting to slide down her cheeks. “I’m afraid,” she admitted, looking up to meet his eyes.

  Raising her chin with his hand, Sam smiled. “I’ll never leave you, Lexa. There are two things you can always count on—the love of the Savior and my love for you.”

  As much as Lexa wanted to believe Sam’s promise, it was difficult since her father had abandoned her when she was a child after her mother’s death. Other than providing for her physical needs, he’d never been there for her in other ways, and she wondered if she could ever count on any man. But, if she could count on any man, it would be this man.

  “I only have one regret,” Lexa murmured, her cheek resting against the soft cotton of his shirt. She burrowed her head, taking a deep breath.

  “Hmm?” Sam sounded far away. “What’s that?”

  “I never got to see the Alamo.”

  “You’re right.” He chuckled. “That is a crime. But,” he said, “I’ll make you another promise. One year from today, I will meet you at the Alamo. How’s that?” He laughed at her incredulous stare. “I’m not kidding. No matter where TeamWork sends me in the next year, I’ll meet you in front of the Alamo exactly one year from today. The TeamWork foreign mission will actually be a few days less than a full year. So, I’ll be definitely be back in a year’s time. To meet you here in San Antonio. At the Alamo.”

  “I don’t know,” Lexa answered, shaking her head with a slight grin as she looked back up at Sam again. “That sounds like a movie plot to me. You know, the one where the two star-crossed lovers agree to meet on the top of the Empire State Building a year later if they still have feelings for one another.”

  “I must have missed that one,” Sam murmured, tenderly nuzzling her hair with his lips. “Do they meet up again?”

  “Yes, but not without first going through tragedy and heartache.”

  Meeting her gaze once more, Sam placed tender hands on her cheeks. “I promise you I’ll be there, Lexa—at six o’clock sharp,” he added with a quick laugh. “The only reason we won’t meet at the Alamo in one year’s time is if you decide you don’t want me.”

  “I’ll always want you, Sam Lewis.”

  Lowering his lips to hers, Sam sealed his promise with another unforgettable kiss.

  ~~**~~

  In the middle of the afternoon the following day, Sam pulled the station wagon up to the Greyhound terminal, twenty minutes before Lexa’s bus was scheduled to leave for Houston. They were both silent during the drive from the camp, each lost in their own thoughts and dreading the actual moment of good-bye.

  It had been hard enough to bid farewell to Winnie, Amy, Natalie, the other girls, and especially Rebekah, with promises to stay in touch. Since Amy lived in New York and Natalie in Boston, Lexa had no idea when she might see them again. She hoped it might be on a future TeamWork mission. With Winnie living just outside Houston and Rebekah in a small town near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Lexa felt sure she’d reconnect with them. The group had formed close bonds during their eight weeks together, and she didn’t want to let these wonderful people go forever

  “Here, I forgot to give this to you last night.” Lexa held out the small, slim box containing the watch as they stood facing one another outside the bus terminal.

  Taking it from her with a curious look, Sam unwrapped it with quick fingers. Spying the watch nestled inside, his laugh was rich but subdued. “I love it.” Removing it from the box, he fastened it on his bare wrist. “This is precisely what I need. Thank you, Lexa. It’s very thoughtful. You always take care of my needs.” When he looked up at her, those blue eyes mesmerized her all over again.

  “You’re welcome.” She wanted to always take care of this man’s needs. Smiling through tremulous lips, Lexa watched the bus pull up to the curb behind them. “That’s my bus,” she told him in a hushed voice. Sam nodded without speaking. Even though he made no move to touch her, his eyes spoke volumes.

  A cough overwhelmed her, and Lexa succumbed. Putting one quick hand across her stomach and the other over her mouth, she coughed hard.

  “Are you okay, sweetheart? Dust in your lungs?”

  “No. Love in my lungs.”

  “Oh.” He groaned a little, and they laughed together. Lexa was afraid she’d burst into tears and wanted to keep the mood light. When Sam bundled her close, she clung to him. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and she closed her eyes. She’d never thought of herself as a clingy female, but with Sam, she never wanted to leave the circle of those strong arms. A big part of the equation was that he’d soon be gone for the next year. It was her own bitter pill to swallow.

  “I’m not going to say good-bye to you, Sam,” Lexa whispered as he held her tight. She was becoming an emotional ninny around this man. But she didn’t care.

  “Then don’t. I’ll call you in a couple of days when I get to Houston.” Sam tapped her chin with gentle fingers. “Remember, this is the easy part.”

  “Do you know where you’re going or anything about your schedule for the next year?”

  He picked up her suitcase to walk her over to the bus. The driver took the bag from Sam and told Lexa she needed to board as soon as possible. “No, but I should know more by the time I see you in Houston.”

  With a quick kiss and a murmured good-bye, Lexa hurried up the steps and onto the bus. Finding a window seat midway down the aisle, she dropped into the seat and waved out the window. A part of her wished Sam would simply climb in that old white station wagon and leave. It might make it easier for both of them. But another, deeper part of her, wanted him to stand there until the bus was out of view. He chose the latter route.

  As the bus pulled away in a cloud of ever-present brown dust, Sam slowly raised his hand. As she settled back against her seat, wiping away a tear, Lexa knew it wasn’t her imagination that a tear made its path down his cheek.

  Chapter 45

  Houston – Three Days Later

  Opening the door of her townhome, Lexa expected to see Sam standing on the doorstep. No Sam. Sticking her head outside, she looked one way and then the other. Hmm. She heard the distinct knock, and it was six-thirty on Friday night, the time he was expected to arrive. The man was always as punctual as clockwork. Then she saw it. On the ground, propped against the bushes to the right of her front door, was a long white box tied with a yellow satin ribbon.

  Smiling, she crept closer and spied a small white envelope with Lexa written on the front. Scooping the box in her arms, she swept back inside her townhome and carried it over to the small kitchen. Untying the ribbon, she let the ends fall aside as she opened the top of the box. Parting the white tissue paper, she gasped in delight as she spied a dozen, long-stemmed yellow roses, along with baby’s breath, nestled inside.

  “They’re gorgeous,” she breathed, picking up one of the blooms and inhaling its scent. She’d never received flowers before in her life. Sam’s loving sentiment was precious to her. Lexa felt like laughing with pure joy and bursting into tears all at the same time. The roses were the most beautiful shade of yellow she’d ever seen, symbolizing hope and sunshine, and a reflection of the way Sam made her feel inside.

  How could he know they’d mean so much to her? Because
he was such a caring, thoughtful man. Not to mention highly intuitive. Sam never asked about her past relationships, not that there was much to tell. Sam was so confident in his own skin. He trusted her to tell him if there was anything he should know.

  Remembering she hadn’t opened the card, she retrieved the small white envelope with shaky fingers and pulled out the card tucked inside. My dearest Lexa, I might be in some far off land, but my heart will remain with you always. Trust in the Lord. He’ll take care of you always and wrap His loving arms around you, holding you close when I can’t. With great hope and expectation for our future together. Love, Sam. Ephesians 1:13-17.

  That did it. Oh, the cowboy could be so romantic. The tears started a steady stream down her cheeks. She’d even applied a little makeup, and now it was ruined. Never mind. Walking over to the mirror in the hallway, she wiped away a few last stray tears and tried her best to compose herself, forcing deep breaths.

  It was great to wear something nice for Sam instead of the shorts and T-shirts she’d worn at the campsite. Not to mention they were both covered with a layer of dust or dirt at the work camp. Tonight she’d chosen a pretty, light pink cotton dress and high-heeled sandals. She’d never been one for frills and liked simple and elegant styles. She hoped Sam liked it. It was amazing how she suddenly wanted to dress to please a man, to please one particular man. Just eight short weeks ago, Lexa wouldn’t have thought it possible. What a difference a TeamWork camp makes indeed.

  This night promised the beginning of one of the most wonderful weeks of her life when they could explore their developing relationship apart from the demands and rigors of the work camp. The possibilities were endless. At the end of the week, she’d miss him something terrible. The thought that he’d be gone for an entire year almost broke her heart.